SERVANT

There are words in our vocabulary which conjure different meanings, sometimes unpleasant. If I mention charwoman, you might picture in your mind's eye the lady in the picture above. This lady could be also considered a servant. I've known people in my life who treat service people with disrespect. They have a job to do, and in fact the work they are doing is physically more challenging than anything I have ever done. In Acts 20:24 we are reminded: However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me, the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace. In this great race we are living I want to be a servant too. I want to let the grace the Lord has blessed me with shine through in kindness. I want to be more patient with the waitperson who delivered the wrong meal to my table. He's a college student who was up until 3 a.m. finishing a paper that was due this morning. He missed the bus, was late for class. How do I testify to him? Just smile and give him a great tip. He's a college student who needs the money. After all the Lord has blessed me being able to afford to eat out. In Matthew 6:3 the Apostle Matthew reminds us: But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. When my days on this earth are done, when my Father calls me home, I hope to hear, "well done my good and faithful servant." And when my name is written in His book the only thing I hope to see is "Kathryn Neff Perry, Servant"

THE CAPSTONE

We stood huddled together on that cold morning, waiting in anticipation. What was in that box? Would it reveal long lost treasures? Paperwork from days gone by? To tell you the truth, I don't remember what was in that box. I do remember the ceremony. It was a chilly autumn morning, when we all gathered, waiting as the minister opened the box which had been hidden away behind the cornerstone of our little country church. My Grandfather talked at great length about the significance of that cornerstone. He explained to me, it was the most important part of the building, it was the anchor. Thoughts swirling around in my head that morning where those of the entire Church collapsing since we had removed that cornerstone. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man. Psalm 118:8 There is so much truth in that passage. That verse is in the center of the Bible. How much comfort I receive, knowing that God is my cornerstone, the Capstone of my very existence. Our little Church did not collapse that day, in fact that little Church back in Ohio Sixteen United Methodist, celebrated 150 years last year. Knowing that God is the foundation, and the cornerstone of my life keeps me from bending. Knowing that He is always there gives me the comfort to get through another day.

THE DAY THE MUSIC STOPPED

I grew up in the country on a farm which was located beside a rail road crossing. Riding my bike over that crossing was routine. My Grandmother's stern warning was always to be careful, watch both ways and listen for the train. A ten year old's brain is a little different than a sixty year old's. I knew Grandma meant well, but how could I not hear or see a train? Of course I was careful. We heard the train, and saw it in the distance, we had plenty of time to cross the tracks. My grandmother, mother and sister and I joined hands and ran across, laughing and enjoying our time together that day in the heat of the summer sun. We stood on the other side, closest to our farm, and waited, watching as the train went past. I saw an object fly through the air, on the other side of the train. It was at that moment I realized my precious, ever faithful dog was sitting too close to that train. That was the day the "music stopped in my heart". I had never lost anyone close to me, and maybe that was God's innocent way of preparing me for what was to come in later years. But I wasn't sure how I could go on without my dog. I had not known life without him. My parents acquired him as a puppy shortly after I was born. I suppose I also took him for granted. He was always at my side. Followed me everywhere I went. I rode my bike to Grandma's house everyday. He was always there trotting along beside me. When one of the neighbor boys shoved me down and tried to beat me up, my dog bit him. I'll never forget the emptiness I felt that day, at that moment when I realized that "object" flying through the air was my dog. I'll never forget seeing my Grandmother pick him up, carry him to our farm while my mother found a blanket to wrap him in. We cried as a family, everyone loved him. My grandmother put her arms around me, trying to comfort me. She reminded me to give thanks to the Lord for everything. I looked at her, tears running down my cheeks. "How, can I thank Him for taking my dog away?" I sobbed. She patted my hand and said, "You must be thankful that you had him for ten wonderful years. He loved you more than anything." I learned a valuable lesson that day. I learned when I prayed I found the comfort I was seeking. When I thanked the Lord for my faithful companion, it gave me a new sense of peace. Today when I need peace, I look to Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

COMMIT TO THE LORD

Proverbs 16:3 Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed. TThe older I get, the more I realize how true these words in Proverbs are. My grandmother used to remind me to "pray without ceasing." I didn't know what that meant. To me, as a child, I thought you just beg someone until they either tell you no, or you got what you wanted. This verse holds so much truth in it. When we ask the Lord to guide our every step of the way, and then be patient, He will show us where He wants us to be. A friend of mine shared a story with me the other day. He was asked to serve the Lord as a missionary in Peru. He lifted it up to the Lord in prayer. He asked the Lord to give him three signs if this was truly a request from Him. My friend was willing to go to Peru, but wanted to make sure the call was actually coming from the Lord. My friend prayed, "I don't have a passport, I have no money, and please have 'someone' call me to confirm this. He received a phone call from another missionary asking him to come with him to Peru. He received his passport in about two weeks, and another person who was supposed to go the Peru was not able, so they offered my friend that money to go. While he was in Peru, one night the Pastor came to my friend and said, the Holy Spirit came to me and wants you to preach tonight. My friend had less than fifteen minutes to prepare his sermon. On that night, during his alter call, 87 people came forward. Psalm 119:133 Direct my footsteps according to your word........

Calming The Waters

James 1:6 says: When he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. It's not easy when we are faced with trials, you know the kind each of us has everyday. Whether it is sickness, financial. It is difficult to "keep the faith". It's difficult to find the joy in our lives when the storm is pounding down around us. I love storms. I love to sit and watch the lightning and the rain coming in. Even though I'm afraid of lightening, unless I'm inside, I love the magnitude. Realizing everything comes from the Lord, even the storms. I also know that once the storm is over there will be a rainbow. That gives me hope. Sometimes when I am faced with adversity, it's difficult to remember the storm isn't going to last forever. There's a rainbow just behind that next cloud burst. I remind myself too, that my Father in Heaven is always there beside me. Watching the storm and calming the waters.

REFINED BY FIRE

Over the past few months we have been praying for several people in our Church family who have been diagnosed with cancer. The Apostle Peter tells us about living hope. God knows we cannot live without hope. God promises us in 1 Peter 1:6-7-though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire, may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. And Peter goes on to remind us that even though we do not see Him, we believe in Him and we are filled with joy. When I pray with a cancer patient I am reminded my own trials are nothing. I am also reminded that God is ever present. He loves each of us and is with us every step of the way. Let the patient feel God's love through you. Let your face shine with the joy of the Holy Spirit. We can offer the hope of eternal life. It is our natural instinct to want to know what lies ahead. For the Christian we have the promise of Eternal Life. I John 5:11 God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.

THE FAT LADY IS SINGING

Isn't that what "they" say? It's not over til the Fat Lady Sings? Well, I'm tellin ya, it's over! I finished my latest WIP this afternoon. I have been working on that sucker since April. There were days when I had to super glue myself to the seat! Editing and re-writing are not what I enjoy doing. Now I'm going to go over the entire manuscript again, polish it, make sure I spelled the heroine's name correctly consistently, and pray that the publisher is STILL interested in my work. When people pick up a book to read it, they have no idea how much time you have actually put into that little work of art. Someone said to me one day, "I think I could write a book, it looks easy." Well, she was right. It is easy to write! What's not easy, at least for me is re-writing. There were days when I came into the office, I felt like someone was sticking bamboo shoots under my finger nails. Yes, it was torture. Now, that I am able to sit back and read through what I have re-written, I'm happy that I've spent the past six months working on it. Now, the waiting begins. However, no vacation for me, I've already started the next book. This is the fun part though, writing. Which is your favorite part? I read a blog the other day where the writer shared her favorite thing to do is editing. Maybe I should call her, she can do the editing for me, and I'll do the writing for her. I'm not sure that would work.

ADJUST YOUR ARMOR

It seems we all have battles, in fact every day I hear about several more. Either problems at work, financial problems, people losing their homes, their jobs, marriages breaking up, children leaving home---another blog----, but it comes to all of us. Sometimes it is the aging process, when we wake up not feeling well. Your body aches and you are faced with being able to not take care of every day things the way you used to. You came to work, happy that you have a job, only to learn that you are among the five people who have to be "let go". Your child has just left home, to the military, or college, or just to an apartment. They need "to get away from the pressures of home life". What can you do? A friend said to me the other day after learning she just lost her job. "I don't understand. I came to work everyday, I thought I was a good employee." Everywhere around me, people are hurting. Most of them have a smile on their faces and try to make the most of whatever situation they are in. Bad things happen to good people all the time.

I start my day, everyday, on my knees. It's getting harder to get down and get back up, and it seems that I need to stay down there longer. I have so many people to pray for. I read a blog early this morning that suggested we write prayer requests down and take them with you. You can pray in line, or in traffic, or anywhere you have to wait. I am reminded too, to Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. Ephesians 6:10-11

When you see the sun coming up over the horizon, be reminded that God is still there in all His glory and He will take care of your every need. Every day, in every way.

I love you all

Katt

WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY

What gives you pleasure in life? Is it walking on a beach? Or sitting and watching the sun go down? When I think of all the things that make me happy, I have to smile. Walking on a beach is one of them. And when you think about walking on a beach, don't you smile when you conjur up all those memories? Maybe you've never walked on a beach, and felt the cool sand under your feet. I love watching the sun go down over the water. I also love to sit in my office, praying and watching the sun come up.

The sky changes color several times. It starts out inky black, transforms to gray, and then a brillant red, orange explodes across the horizon. In what seems like just a few minutes it changes to a robins egg blue.

Whatever it takes to make you happy, bring joy to your life, that's where you need to be. Every day. Yes, every day. Just for a few moments, take time to feel the joy in your life. Our lives are short, but a vapor.

Read a book, write a book, bake cookies, call a friend, watch a movie. Go on a date with your husband, walk your dog.

Let me know what makes you happy. If it's baking cookies, I'll send you my address.

I love you all.

Katt

OUR ACTIONS MATTER

Someone mentioned a few days ago, something about "routine prayer". It caught my attention because I never think in those terms, "routine prayer." However, the message she was trying to convey was that God answers even the smallest prayer. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective, James 5:16. I am reminded every day how powerful prayer is. I am always surprised when people say to me "the only thing I can do is pray." Are you kidding? That's the best thing you can do.

There are times I sit quietly and wait for God to speak to my heart. When I don't hear anything, I wonder, where are you Lord? Has that happened to you? Again I am reminded, be patient. It is usually during those times when my mind is wandering, I'm already thinking and trying to plan my day ahead. I'm impatient and I want the Lord to act now. He doesn't work that way. It is then, I remind myself to get on my knees. To give Him all the glory and thank Him for all He has done for me. It is also at that time I ask for forgiveness. I guess, I'm still human. I make mistakes, in fact lots of them everyday. I'm short with the person ahead of me in traffic who isn't paying attention to the traffic light. They appear to be on the phone or texting. After all I'm in a hurry. Or not being patient with the person in line ahead of me who keeps talking to the clerk, slowing her down. It is then I am reminded to slow myself down. Did the Lord place those people in my life to remind me? To teach me a small lesson?

I have an on going dialogue with the Lord. He is my everything. My Alpha and Omega.

May you find the peace in your heart that comes from loving Jesus, forgiving your fellow man (or woman) in the line ahead of you. And remembering to pray.

A TIME FOR EVERYTHING UNDER HEAVEN

I read in Ecclesiastes this morning, there's a time for everything. A time to weep and a time to mourn. And so it goes in our life. Like a timing belt that makes the spark plugs fire. If the belt is off a fraction of a second, nothing works. Some days my life feels like that. Everything is off just a bit. It is on those days I realize I need to slow down and listen to the still small voice of God deep within my soul. Telling me, giving me instructions. Adjusting my timing belt. HE always knows the perfect timing for everything in my life. Just as he knew my name before I was born and the hairs on my head were numbered, HE also knows what's best for me. It is on those days when I wake up, thinking everything is under control. Under my control, that nothing seems to go all that smoothly. But on the days when I wake, and sit quietly in my office, reading HIS word and waiting for the sun to come up that a peace comes over my body, mind and soul. It is then in my life that I know what Solomon meant when he wrote about God's timing. Ecclesiastes 3:1...and a season for every activity under heaven...